Mars Wrigley, Chocolate Cordillera, and Godiva all set to make their mark at the Sweets & Snacks Expo

Mars Wrigley has announced its senior executives will attend the 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo to discuss shopper insights to help customers win at checkout and sample the newest innovations from its iconic brands.

During the event, which opens on Tuesday, 14 May, and runs until Wednesday, 16 May, at the Indianapolis Convention Center, Mars will also highlight its evolving treats and snacks portfolio.

"Mars continues to evolve to meet consumer preferences and expectations to create more moments of everyday happiness," said Tim LeBel, president of Sales at Mars Wrigley North America. "From the latest innovations to category-leading insights, Mars Wrigley understands how consumers shop the snacking category."

Launched at Sweets & Snacks Expo in 2022, the Mars Transaction Zone team will be back at the Expo to build on their industry-leading insights to reimagine impulse shopping. As shopper behaviour and checkout technologies continue to evolve, retailers must reinvent the transaction zone to solve front-end challenges.

Mars Wrigley said the Transaction Zone team is ready to partner with retailers to “formulate a holistic transaction zone plan that's optimized for shoppers, operational needs, and sales growth objectives.”

Mike Pedi, Director of Retail Design Transformation at Mars Wrigley, will host a discussion on "Transform Your Transaction Zone: How to Identify the Right Front-End Solution for Your Needs" on Wednesday, 15 May 15, at 11 a.m. EDT on the Insights Stage.

Chocolate Cordillera

Chocolate Cordillera, Colombia’s largest premium and sustainable chocolate ingredients supplier, is making its Sweets & Snacks Expo debut and celebrates with a brand refresh of its website​.

Representatives from the Medellin-based company will be available to share insights about the company's ‘higher purpose’ cocoa sustainability programme, which enables communities to achieve sustainable pathways for growth and prosperity. It will also be an opportunity to check out the latest innovations in premium Latin American chocolate.

Chocolate Cordillera is located at Booth 22062.

Godiva

Luxury Belgian chocolate brand Godiva will also make its presence felt in Indy coming on the back of a recent announcement of the blending of the brand into the pladis portfolio, securing greater expertise, scale, and resources across all categories.

Carlos Canals, managing director, Americas, at pladis said he will be sharing some great early wins and brand updates, including the latest news on Godiva, Flipz and Turtles.

Among the exciting updates is the upcoming launch of a limited-edition special Godiva gift box collection. This collection was created in celebration of the brand’s Belgian roots and features 15 confections never before offered in the US - and Canals said he also plans to have samples on hand for visitors to the pladis booth to enjoy.   

Nassau Candy

Nassau Candy, a leading specialty and private-label confections manufacturer, is also making the most of the Expo with another launch in Indianapolis, this time of new ‘Jawbreaker varieties.’

Joining the Comet Crusher are several different Clever Candy Bulk Jawbreaker options – including wrapped varieties. With these additions, Nassau Candy said it now owns the market share of bulk Jawbreaker varieties.

Chocxo

Chocxo, the low-sugar organic indulgent chocolate maker will be situated in the Specialty Market (Booth 20228), where it will highlight new creations including its Dark Chocolate Lemon Crème Cups: A rich 72% dark chocolate shell is filled with a creamy lemon-infused white chocolate centre for a unique and refreshing indulgence that’s perfect for the season (and you with only 4g sugar per piece), and continuing to roll out this summer.

QAD Redzone

QAD Redzone is a software platform specifically for the manufacturing industry and its frontline workers. The company informs this publication that the majority of its clients are food and beverage manufacturers, including Taffy Town and others.

Located in the Supplier Showcase (Booth 3535), representatives will discuss how important it is to recognize the frontline manufacturing workers of the snacking and sweets industry to retain, attract, and empower them. The company is set to make a major announcement at the Expo. More details to follow.

A new 'big and bold' space opens up for the Expo

Organisers, the National Confectioners Association (NCA), said they are preparing to welcome more than 975 vendors and 16,000 attendees to Indianapolis, the new home of the annual Sweets & Snacks Expo for the next couple of years.

Writing in local media, John Downs, NCA president and CEO, said the event "creates a vibrant, shared space to foster deeper connections among manufacturers, suppliers and retail partners" and "features education sessions led by the industry's foremost experts and thought leaders.

• For more on the 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo, follow this link​.​